Automatic reclosing circuit breaker system



y 1935. E. v. ELLETT 2,003,043

AUTOMATIC RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER SYSTEM Filed March 11, 1953 WITNESSES: INVENTOR fi fife/"nor; 67/1975;

O; EY

Patented May 28, 1935 I v AUTOMATIC anctosmo cmoul BREAKER SYSTEM E. Vernon Ellett, Pocahontas, Va., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 11, 1933, Serial No. 660,378

14 Claims. (Cl. 175-294) My invention relates, generally, to circuit otherwise. The control relay is controlled princibreaker systems, and more particularly to autopally by auxiliary switches or limit switches on matic reclosing circuit breaker systems. the breaker and by means of two lock-out relays.

The object of my invention generally stated is The normal operating position of the reclosing to provide an automatic reclosing circuit intersystem is such that the lock-out relays are in rupter system which shall be simple and efiective their reset positions which renders the control in operation and which may be economically relay responsive to an opening of the breaker manufactured and installed. on overload, or other circuit disturbance to ef- A more specific object of my invention is to profect an initial reclosure of the breaker substanvide for automatically reclosing a circuit intertially instantaneously. The operation of the 10 rupter, which opens in response to abnormal or control relay also operates a lock-out relay to predetermined circuit conditions, in accordance its lock-out or open position, thereby rendering with a predetermined sequence, the circuit interthe control relay unresponsive .to a reopening of rupter being automatically locked out against the breaker.

15 further automatic reclosures in the event it does If the breaker reopens, a timing relay is set 15 not remain closed for a predetermined time folinto operation and at the expiration of a desired lowing the last reclosure of the sequence. time interval operates a relay which closes to Another object of my invention is to provide an energize the control relay and also to operate automatic reclosing circuit breaker system which the second lock-out relay to its lock-out or open shall function automatically in response to the position, to render the timing means ineffective opening of the breaker to effect a substantially to again reclose the breaker.

instantaneous reclosure of the breaker followed In the event that the breaker reopens followby a predetermined number of timed reclosures, ing the second reclosure the reclosing system is the reclosing system being rendered ineffective to ineffective to efiect another reclosure and the provide further instantaneous reclosures after breaker is, therefore, locked out of service until 5 the first reclosure and again rendered efiective to attended by an operator.

produce such a reclosure in the event that the When the breaker is reclosed on the last rebreaker remains closed'ior apredeterminedtime closure, a second timing means is set into opinterval after y reclosure. eration and ii the breaker remains closed for a 341 A further object of my invention is to provide desired time, as determined by the setting of for effecting a substantially instantaneous rethis relay, it operates both of the lock-out reclosure of a circuit interrupter in response to the lays to their reset or normal positions, thereby automatic opening of the interrupter and for rendering the system responsive to a subsequent preventing a second instantaneous reclosure of opening of the breaker.

the circuit interrupter unless the interrupter re- Referring to the single figure of the drawin mains closed for apredetermined interval of time. the reference character I0 designates generally A still further object of my invention is to proa circuit breaker connected between a source of vide an automatic reclosing circuit breaker syspower represented by conductors II and a load tem which shall function automatically to effect circuit II. The circuit breaker may be provided 40 a substantially instantaneous reclosure of the with any type of closing device, such for ex- 40 breaker in response to the opening thereof, and ample, as an ordinary solenoid 13, as shown. for thereafter efi'ecting a timed reclosure or to The breaker may also be provided with a tripeffect a second instantaneous reclosure dependent ping device I4 comprising a spring-biased latch upon the breaker remaining in the reclosed pol5 which is disposed to be operated by a solenoid sition for a predetermined interval of time. IS in response to some predetermined abnormal 45 Another object of my invention is to provide an condition in the load circuit, and in this in- .automatic reclosing circuit breaker system which stance, is connected to the load circuit by means may be constructed of simple and inexpensive reof the current transformer l1. lays only and which will provide a high degree of Current for operating the reclosing system may reliability with low first cost and maintenance be obtained from the power circuit II by means 50 e pense to the user. of a suitable transformer l8, having one end of In practicing my invention in its preferred its secondary winding connected directly to the form, a control relay is used for controlling the control conductor X and the opposite end conoperation of the closing device of the breaker nected to control conductor Y through a suitable which may be in the form of a solenoid, motor or switch I9. r 55 In this embodiment of the invention, the energization of the closing solenoid I3 is controlled by means of a control 'relay 2|, which is controlled in such manner as to effect a predetermined sequence of reclosing operations, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In order to provide for deenergizing the control relay 2| after the breaker has been closed, there is provided a cut-off relay 22 which is controlled by the breaker in such manner as to deenergize control relay 2|, and thereby deenergize the closing solenoid of the breaker.

Since it is desired to efiect the first reclosure of the breaker substantially instantaneously, and thereafter producea timed reclosure, provision is made for preventing a second instantaneous reclosure by means of a lock-out relay 23, which, when operated to its lock-out position, renders the control relay 2| unresponsive to a second opening of the breaker until the timing devices function. Any suitable type of lockout relay may be used, such for example, as a toggle relay, as shown, having an opening or lock-out coil 24 and a reset coil 25. v

The timing for the second reclosure of the breaker may be efiected by means of any suitable timing device, such for example, as an induction relay 26, as shown; Since the construction of relays of this type is well known, it has been deemed unnecessary to describe this relay in detail other than to state that it is provided with the usual rotating disc element 21, carrying a movabl contact member 28 which is disposed to be actuated into engagement with stationary contact members 29, a damping magnet 3| and an operating electromagnet 32. The movable contact member is held in the open position when the relay is deenergized by means of a suitable coil spring 33.

In order to provide the feature of rendering the reclosing system ineffective to produce a reclosure of the breaker following the last reclosure of the predetermined sequence or cycle, a second lookout relay 34, of the toggle type, is utilized. This relay may be of the-same general construction as the lock-out relay 23, having a lock-out coil 35 and a reset coil .36. As will be described more fully hereinafter, the lock-out relay 34 is operated simultaneously with the second reclosure of the breaker and functions to render the reclosing system temporarily inoperative to eifect a fur-- ther reclosure in the event the breaker opens immediately.

The additional feature of the system of rendering the system efiective following a lock-out operation in the event that the circuit breaker remains closed for a predetermined time is provided by means of a second time-delay relay 31, which may be identical in construction to the relay 26, previously described. The circuit breaker I 0 may be operated to the closed position initially by means of a push-button switch 38, which, upon being closed, establishes an energizing circuit for the control relay 2|. This circuit extends from conductor X through conductors and 39, switch 38, coil of relay 2|, and normally-closed contact members 4| of the cut-off relay22 to conductor Y. 1

Upon the operation of control relay 2| an energizing circuit for the closing solenoid I3 'is established which extends from conductor X through the conductor 42, solenoid l3, conductors tends from energized conductor 39 through contact members 46 and conductor 41 to one end of. the coil, as shown.

In order to operate the cut-ofi relay 22 in response to the closure of the breaker and thereby deenergize the control relay 2|. and solenoid I3, the breaker is provided with the limit switch 48 which, when closed, establishes an energizing circuit extending from conductor Y through switch 48, conductor 49, coil of relay 22, closed contact members 46 of the control relay 2| and conductors and 39 to conductor Y. The operation of the cut-off relay interrupts the holding circuit for the control relay which, in turn, opens its contact members 46 to deenergize the cut-01f relay 22.

Assuming now that the breaker opens in response to an abnormal condition in the load circuit, a substantially instantaneous first reclosure is efiected by rendering the control relay 2| initially responsive to the opening operation of the breaker. i

As will be observed, the breaker is'provided with a. second, limit switch 5| which closes when the breaker is in the open position to establish.

2| establishes an energizing circuit for the lock-' out relay 23 to effect the operation of this relay to the lockout position, thereby to prevent a second instantaneous reclosure and to prevent any attempted reclosure in the event that the control voltage is lost for any reason. The energizing circuit thus established for the lock-out coil 24 of the look-out relay extends from conductor Y through contact members 45 of control relay 2.|, conductor 44 and coil 24 to conductor X. It is thus apparent that when contact members 53 of the lock-out relay 23 are opened the previously described energizing circuit for the control relay 2| is interrupted and consequently the relay does not respond to the closure of the limit switch 5|.

In the event that the breaker reopens immediately, so that a second reclosure is necessary,

provision is made for initiating the operation of the timing relay 26 in response to the reopening of the breaker. In this instance, this is accomplished by means of a third limit switch 56 on the breaker which, when closed, establishes a circuit extending from conductor Y through conductor 51, opening electro-magnet 32, limit switch 56, conductor 58, contact members 59 of lock-out relay 34 and conductors 6| and 65 to conductor X. .As will be readily understood thetiming relay 26 may be adjusted to close its contact members at the expiration of any desired time interval.

Upon the expiration of this time interval contact members 29 of the timing relay 26 are bridged by the moving contact member 28 to establish an operating circuit for an auxiliary relay 62. This circuit extends from conductor X through conductors 42, 52 and 63, contact members 2!, conductor 44, and coil of relay 62, to

conductor Y.

In response to the operation of the auxiliary relay 62a second energizing circuit for the control relay II is established. This circuit now extends from conductor X through conductors 65 and SI, contact members S6 of the lock-out relay 34, contact members 61 of auxiliary relay 62, conductor 68 which connects with the conductor 54, and limit switch 5| to the coil of control relay 2|, as previously described. The closure of control relay 2| now eflfects the second reclosure or the breaker which occurs at a predetermined time interval following the reopening on the first reclosure.

In order to produce a temporary lock-out condition of the reclosing system following the secondreclosure, provision is made for eilecting the operation of the second lock-out relay 34 to its lock-out position simultaneously with the second reclosure of the breaker. This is accom- 'plished in this instance by means of a second contact member 69 on the auxiliary relay 62 which closes to, energize the look-out coil 35 over a circuit extending from conductor X to coil 35, contact members 69, conductors II and 44 and contact members 45 of the control relay II to conductor Y.

It will now be observed thatgthe energizing circuit for the control relay 2| has been interrupted at contact members 53 of the lock-out relay 23, and also at contact members 56 of the lock-out relay 34, thereby making it impossible to effect either an instantaneous or a timed reclosure. a

It is desirable, however, to provide for resetting the system whereby it will again respond automatically to provide a second sequence of reclosing operations, in the event that the breaker remains closed for a predetermined time following the time reclosure. In order to efiect this function, the second timing relay 31 is rendered responsive to the closure of the breaker by means of a iourth limit switch I2, the operation of the timing relay 31 being dependent upon either one of the look-out relays 23 and 34 being in their lock-out position.

As shown, contact members 13 of lock-out relay 23 and contact members I4 01' lock-out relay 34 are connected in parallel to conductor X and through conductor 15, limit switch 12, conductor l6 and electro-magnet ll of the timing relay 37 to conductor Y. It is thus apparent that should the circuit breaker have remained closed iollowing the first reclosure and the lock-out relay 23 only been operated, this energizing circuit for the timing relay 3'! would have been established and the timing relay operated to reset the system. Likewise, it both of the look-out relays had been operated, such as was previously. described, the timing relay 31 would have also operation of these relays to their original or reset position, thereby rendering the system responsive to a subsequent reopening of the breaker.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel reclosing system comprised of relays only, thereby making it economical to construct, and which operates in a reliable manner to produce a predetermined sequence of reclosures.

It may be stated in conclusion, that, while the illustrated example constitutes a material embodiment of my invention, I do not wish-to limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since modifications of the same may be made without departing from thespiritof the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination,- a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening the breaker, closing means for the breaker, means independent of the opening means responsive to the opening of the breaker for causing the closing means to reclose the breaker substantially instantaneously, means responsive to the operation of the reclosing means for rendering the reclosing means ineilfective to produce a second instantaneous reclosure, timing means operable in response to a reopening of the breaker for causing the closing means to eflect a second reclosure of the breaker at the expiration of a predetermined interval, means responsive to the operation of the timing means for rendering said timing means ineffective to operate the closing means, and additional timing means operable in response to the breaker remaining closed a predetermined time after any reclosure for rendering the reclosing means again effective td'produce a substantially instantaneous reclosure.

'2. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening-the breaker, closing means for the breaker, means independent of the opening means responsive to the opening of the breaker for causing the closing means to reclose the breaker substantially instantaneously, said means being disposed to become unresponsive to an immediate reopening of the breaker, timing means operable in response to a reopening of the breaker for causing the closing means to efiect a second reclosure oi the breaker at the expiratlon of a predetermined interval, said means being disposed to become unresponsive to an immediate reopening of the breaker, and additional timing means dependent upon the breaker remaining in the reclosed position for a predetermined time after either the first or second reclosure thereof for rendering both the said means for effecting a substantially instantaneous reclosure and the timing means again responsive to the opening of the breaker.

3. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening the breaker, closing means for the breaker, means including a control relay responsive to theinitial opening of the breaker for energizing the closing means to efiect a substantially instantaneous reclosure of the breaker, means controlled by said control relay whereby the means including the control relay is rendered unresponsive to a reopening of the breaker, time-delay means responsive to ,the reopening of the breaker for eifecting the operation of the control relay to reclose the breaker at the expiration of a predetermined time interval,

means responsive to the operation of the timedelay means for rendering said time-delay means ineffective to again; reclose the breaker, and a second time delay means operable to render said meansincluding the control relay and the firstmentioned time-delay means responsive to further reopening operations of the breaker, said time delay means being dependentfor its functioning on the breaker remaining closed for a predetermined time interval.

4. The combination with a power supply circuit, a load circuit and a circuit interrupter therebetween,.of means for automatically opening the interrupter in response to an abnormal condition of the load circuit, control means responsive to the opening of the. interrupter for eifecting a substantially instantaneous reclosure thereof, means responsive to the operation of the control means operable to cause said control means to eifect a second substantially instantaneous reclosure of the interrupter dependent upon the interrupter remaining closed until the expiration of a predetermined time interval following said first instantaneous reclosure, and means operable to cause said control means to effect a timed reclosure in the event the breaker opens before the expiration of said predetermined time interval.

5. The combination with a power supply circuit, a load circuit and a circuit interrupter therebetween, of means for automatically opening the interrupter in response to anabnormal condition of the load circuit and means responsive to the opening of the interrupter for effecting a se-' quence of reclosing operations thereof in the event'the interrupter continues to reopen, the first of said reclosures being eifected substantially instantaneously, said means including meansoperable to render the system operable to eifect a second sequence of reclosures in the event that the interrupter remains closed for a predetermined time following the last reclosure of the first sequence of reclosures.

6. In combination, a circuit interrupter, means for opening the interrupter in response to predetermined conditions, means including a control relay responsive to the opening of the interrupter for efiecting a substantially instantaneous reclosure thereof, lock-out means responsive to the operation of said control relay for rendering said control relay ineffective to reclose the interrupter in response to a second opening thereof, timedelay means responsive to the opening of the interrupter for operating the control relay at the expiration of a predetermined time interval to reclose the interrupter a second time, and additional time-relay means responsive to an opening operation of the interrupter foroperating the lock-out means to again render the means including the control relay eifective to reclose the interrupter substantially instantaneously, dependent upon the interrupter remaining closed for a predetermined time interval following any reclosure thereof.

7. In combination, a circuit breaker, means for opening the breaker, means including a control relay responsive to an initial opening of the breaker for effecting a single substantially instantaneous reclosure thereof, and means including a plurality of timing relays responsive-to the position of the breaker for effecting a timed reclosure of the breaker in the event that it reopens within a predetermined time interval following the substantially instantaneous reclosure,

and for rendering the means including the control relay operable to eifect another substantially instantaneous reclosure izithe event that the breaker remains closed for a predetermined-time interval following either. a substantially instantaneous reclosure or a timed reclosure.

8. In combination, a circuitinterrupter,.means I for opening the interrupter in response to predetermined conditions, means operable to ,close the interrupter, and reclosing meansv responsive to the opening of the interrupter for efiecting a sequence of reclosures including a substantially lockout means to again render said reclosing means automatically operable to repeat the sequence of reclosures in response to an opening of the interrupter. T l

9. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuitbreaker pro- .vided with closing means, means for automatically opening the breaker, a control relay for controlling the energization of the closing means, an energizing circuit for the control relay, switch means dependent upon the opening of the'breaker for closing said energizing circuit to operate the control relay and reclose the breaker, means controlled by the control relay to interrupt said energizing circuit, thereby rendering the switch means ineifective to cause a second reclosure of the breaker, timing means responsive to the reopening of the breaker for again completing an energizing'circuit for the control relay to reclose the breaker atthe expiration of a predetermined time interval, and means responsive to the operation of the timing means for rendering said timing means further inefiective to' reclose the breaker. I

10. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker provided withclosing means, means for automatically opening the breaker, a; control relay for controlling the energization of the closing means,

'an energizing circuit for the control relay, switch .eration of the timing means forrendering said timing means further ineffective to reclose the breaker, and timing means dependent upon the breaker remaining closed for a predetermined time following a reclosure for again rendering the switch means efiective' to-close the energizing circuit for the control relay.

I1. -In combination, a circuit breaker, means for opening the breaker-in response to predetermined conditions, closing'me'aris for'the breaker, a control relay for controlling the'closing means,

switch means responsive to the opening of thebreaker for energizing the control relayto effeet a substantially instantaneous reclosure thereof, a lock-out relay controlled by the control relay for rendering said control relay unresponsive to the switch means in the event that the breaker reopens, a timing relay responsive to the opening of the breaker for effecting the operation of the control relay to reclose the breaker at the expiration of a predetermined time interval, a second lock-out relay controlled by the timing relay for rendering said timing relay unresponsive to a reopening of the breaker, and means responsive to the breaker remaining in the closed position for .a predetermined time after any reclosure for controlling the look-out relays to render the control relay and the timing relay effective to produce further reclosures.

12. In combination, a circuit breaker, means for opening the breaker, means including a control relay responsive to the opening of the breaker for effecting an immediate reclosure thereof, said means becoming unresponsive to an immediate reopening of the breaker, means including said control relay responsive to the reopening of the breaker for effecting a second reclosure thereof after a predetermined time interval, said means becoming unresponsive to an immediate reopening of the breaker, and time-delay means operable dependent upon the breaker remaining reclosed for a predetermined time following either the immediate reclosure or the timed reclosure for rendering either the first or second means including the control relay, or both, again re-' sponsive to the opening of the breaker.

13. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening the breaker, means independent of the opening, means responsive to the opening of the breaker for efiecting a substantially instantaneous first reclosure thereof, time-delay means dependent for its operation upon the reopening of the breaker for operating the re closing means to eflect a second reclosure thereof at the expiration of a predetermined time interval, and means responsive to the operation of the time-delay means for rendering said timedelay means ineffective to again reclose the breaker in the event that the breaker immediately reopens following said second reclosure.

14. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker system, in combination, a circuit breaker, means for automatically opening the breaker, control means independent of the opening means and operable in response to the opening of the breaker for efiecting a substantially instantaneous reclosure thereof, means responsive to the operation of said control means for rendering it um'e-. sponsive to an immediate reopening of the break er, time-delay means dependent for its operation upon the breaker remaining closed for a predetermined time interval following the substantially instantaneous reclosure for again rendering the control means operable to efiect" another substantially instantaneous reclosure, and additional time-delay means operable in the event that the breaker reopens beforev the expiration of said predetermined time interval to cause said control means to effect a timed reclosure of the breaker.

E. VERNON ELLETT. 

